AAT Vision

(Source: Ka `Imi `Ike Publication)The AAT vision is to improve equity and access to teacher education for underrepresented groups and non-traditional students. The program seeks to address the critical teacher shortage in the state of Hawai`i by providing quality pre-service teachers who are locally educated and culturally sensitive to schools in their own communities.

We believe that we can best do that by providing a high quality teacher education program that infuses multicultural perspectives, constructivist principles, social justice, and an ethic of caring in order to create a community of learners. At the heart of the AAT program lies CORE, a standards-based teacher preparation model based upon and aligned with the Hawai`i Teacher’s Standard Board’s (HTSB) ten standards that represents the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that Hawai`i’s teachers need to demonstrate to be considered effective educators. At the end of the AAT Program, our graduates develop a professional portfolio based on CORE that demonstrates that they are effective Collaborators (HTSB Standard 10), are Oriented towards their students (HTSB Standards 1-3), are Reflective and ethical practitioners (HTSB 9), and are Effective in their teaching (HTSB Standards 4-8). We believe that this level of preparation allows our graduates to successfully enter the educational workforce as either a Paraprofessional or as a transfer to a 4-year university to continue their studies and training in teacher education.

AAT Mission

The AAT Mission is represented by the following six program goals that support AAT's vision of providing quality pre-service teachers to address the teacher shortage in the state of Hawai`i.

1. Improve access to teaching for nontraditional and underrepresented students from local communities.2. Improve access to teaching by offering a viable alternative to the traditional AA degree through multiple modes of delivery.3. Prepare and support students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions as a prerequisite for teaching.4. Partner with 4-year programs to offer a variety of transfer options.5. Promote teaching as a means to address the critical teacher shortage in Hawai`i.6. Create responsive community partnerships and to partner with local schools to provide service learning experience.

AAT Program Student Learning Outcomes (CORE Philosophy)

At the end of the AAT Program, the successful AAT graduate will be able to demonstrate the following overarching program learning outcomes (CORE) in addition to the General Education Learning Outcomes for the AA degree:Collaborate (HTSB/INTASC Standard #10)

At the end of the AAT Program, graduates will be able to analyze,collaborateandvaluelearning communities to ensure growth for all learners andevaluatehis/her own effectiveness.

Oriented to Students (HTSB/INTASC Standard #1, 2, and 3)

At the end of the AAT Program, graduates will be able to describe,analyze,implement, assess, andvaluedevelopmentally appropriate instructional and assessment strategies, and positive learning environments to ensure growth for all learners andevaluatehis/her own effectiveness.

Relevant (HTSB/INTASC Standard #4-8)

At the end of the AAT Program, graduates will be able to analyze,design,implement,assess, andvaluestandards-based lesson plans that are contextually, culturally, and technologically relevant to ensure growth for all learners andevaluatehis/her own effectiveness.

Effective (HTSB/INTASC Standard #9)

At the end of the AAT Program, graduates will be able to analyze, plan, develop, demonstrate, and value professional and ethical teaching practices to ensure growth for all learners and evaluate his/her own effectiveness.

The outcome at the CORE
of our program is: Developing community-focused
educators who will construct classrooms oriented to students
(student-centered classrooms).
In a Collaborative community of learners and practitioners to construct student Oriented classrooms; the program values an ethic of caring and the development of interconnectedness and positive relationships. Candidates will create a positive learning environment where students’ will be willing to take risks and will be applauded for their development as learners. In the words of Alfie Kohn, “A classroom where mistakes are “our friends” isn’t a place where anything goes or accuracy doesn’t count. It’s a place that has transcended a behaviorist model of learning and, consequently, a place where students feel safe, take chances, and ultimately can learn more successfully.”

By using Relevant content and standards based pedagogy, contextually, culturally and technologically; informed by the work of Howard Gardner and the Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence (CREDE), Unit faculty design and model standards based instruction to support candidate’s multiple learning styles. Within each education course, faculty provides explicit instruction in the design and delivery of standards based lesson plans that demonstrate knowledge of learning theories along with a variety of strategies and activities to support culturally responsive and inclusive teaching practices.

With Effective, ethical and reflective practice the CORE of our program: Developing community–focused educators who will plant the seeds for social and educational transformation can be realized.

The CORE Philosophy defined by our values and beliefs about teacher education is embraced by all education faculty members and provides direction for the development and delivery of the education courses. This philosophy informs decisions about our operations and provides the structure upon which the program is built.